The Crown Road development has been given the green light by the planning officer ahead of tomorrow's planning committee meeting.

The controversial proposal to build 28 "container homes" in Crown Road, Borehamwood, to bring families back into Hertsmere, has been met with more opposition to an application than ever before in the borough.

More than 400 people have filed objections against the plans citing loss of privacy, an unsuitable location, and a worry that the development could generate noise and anti social behaviour.

Grant Kramer, from campaign group Borehamwood Under Threat is "disappointed" that the council seem to have "ignored" the objectors.

"This is the most objected application Hertsmere has ever seen and its disappointing that the council haven't had more of a dialogue with us as residents."

Mr Kramer is also concerned that the council are set to approve the application despite it meeting the same criteria that was rejected back in 2003.

Elstree and Borehamwood town council "applauded" the council’s intention to reach out to vulnerable sections of the community but felt that the specifications of the proposal might not deliver the "desired solution" and that more permanent houses would be preferred.

Andrew Lewis, chairman of Elstree & Borehamwood Residents Association, said: "If plans go through this will a massive loss to democracy. It will throw people's hopes in the gutter."

He added: "There is minimal privacy protection to the residents surrounding roads in regards to overlooking into their gardens and for them looking at these ugly objects."

Campaigners maintain they recognise the need to provide housing for the vulnerable in the borough but this scheme represents the "wrong housing solution in the wrong location".

Hertsmere Borough Council say it has a "statutory duty" to bring residents back into Hertsmere and point to several successful developments elsewhere around the country, including in Reading, where council leader Morris Bright recently visited.

The report also states that any possible anti social behaviour is not a planning reason to refuse an application while the previous planning application on site made in 2001 is of a "different nature and scale", according to the report and each application is assessed on its "own merits".

A planning committee will make a decision on whether to approve the Crown Road development at Hertsmere's council offices in Borehamwood tomorrow. The public meeting starts at 6pm.